Monthly Archives: April 2015

Western Avenue Studios and Lofts presents Spring Art Thing. Guests are encouraged to visit during the Open Studios on May 2nd between 12-5pm to visit artists, browse the art, buy unique gifts, collect fun facts, and tips, as well as stickers for a chance to win prizes. Flower door tags will mark the entryways of participating studios and lofts.

Migration Goods will be out in Holyoke this weekend at the Alchemy Artisan Fair! Looks like lots of fun! Saturday May 2nd 10am -6 pm and Sunday May 3rd 11am -4pm Gateway City Arts, 92-114 Race St, Holyoke, MA

Muddy Girls are moving their studio from the 4th Floor to the 2nd Floor! Help them lighten the load! 20% off select pottery now thru May 2 in Studio 405

Ongoing Exhibitions: Now Showing

An amazing collaborative show is opening at the Loading Dock Gallery! “Down to Earth: Clay, Paper & Wood” featuring Barb Guilmet, Samantha Tucker, Laura Doran & Kevin Connolly! This one is a must see! Opening Reception Saturday May 2nd from 5-7pm

Regina McGearty will be featured in the Ayer Lofts Residents’ show “The Other Element” The show runs May 3rd through May 31st with an Opening Reception on Thursday May 7th from 6-9pm. 172 Middle St. Lowell.

Garry Harley’s image titled KAREN’S PURPLE HOPE (dedicated to his daughter) is ready to ship to Tokyo. This image is one of 80 selected (out of 737 entered) in NYC judging. In Tokyo it will hang with 80 images also selected in Paris and 80 from Tokyo for final judging and awards by 14 judges from NYC, Paris and Tokyo – final judging on June 10th. Show will hang as part of ART OLYMPIA 2015 competition, at new Toshimau-Ku office building June 15-28, 2015. Good Luck Garry!!

One of Garry Harley’s photographs has been accepted into the Arts League of Lowell (ALL) up-coming show titled EXPOSED 2015 / Open Juried photography show. Show ‘hangs’ April 17th through May 31st with an Artist reception April 26th from 4-6pm

Another Stunning show opens at the Loading Dock Gallery! “Layers and Light: Where Sky Meets Sea” Glass work by Aron Leaman and paintings by Bethany Peck! I had a sneek peek already and this show is out of this world!! The show runs now through April 26th LAST CHANCE!

”September at Red Wing” by Priscilla Levesque is included in the current Members’ Show at the Newburyport Art Association. The show will be on view through April 25th LAST CHANCE!

One of Garry Harley’s photographs has been accepted in the Arts League of Lowell (ALL) up-coming show titled EXPOSED 2015 / Open Juried photography show. Show ‘hangs’ April 17th through May 31st with an Artist reception April 26th from 4-6pm

Deb Bretton Robinson has a one woman show “Follow the River” at the Newton Public Library. The show features contemporary river and lake scenes of Northern Mass and Northern NH. and runs through April 29th LAST CHANCE!

Q: Tell us a little bit about your background. Where are you from? Where did you study? How long have you been an artist?

A: I am from Concord NH, recently relocated to Lowell. I have studied with Lowell’s Master Cambodian Potter Yary Livan, Glaze specialist/author John Britt, NC, and my studio mate Barbara Guilmet. I have been working in ceramics since 2008.

Q: What is the first thing you remember making/creating by hand?

A: I threw some bowls, and I loved the feeling of the wet clay in my hands. I was hooked and soon joined Barb in her studio.

Q: What do you love most about your art?

A: I love how I can transform the clay into almost anything. I am only limited by the size of the kiln.

Q: What is your biggest obstacle with your art?

A: One obstacle is time, I would love to be able to be in the studio every day, the entire process of creating ceramics is time consuming, building, drying, trimming, more drying, firing, glazing and firing again.

Q: Describe a typical art creativity session. What is it like? For example, do you work in silence, or do you work to music? Do you prefer to be alone, or do you need people around?

A: When I am all alone in the studio and on the floor, I love to blast my music, but working side by side with Barb has to the best. We feed off each other, we can work in silence, or talk, laugh and collaborate.

Q: How does your personality translate into your art?

A: I think I’m very lo key, not a perfectionist and I don’t expect perfection from the clay. I like it when my pieces come out of the kiln just a little funky and truly hand made.

Q: Did you always know you wanted to make the art you make today? Did you start out in a different medium in the early days?

A: No, I was a mom, working 2 part time jobs. It wasn’t until my kids were older and more independent that I started hanging with Barb and I fell in love with what she was doing.

Q: What advice do you have for someone just starting out as an artist?

A: Just go for it!

Q: Do you have a big seller? What do you think people love about it? And be honest…are you tired of making it?

A: We (Muddy Girls Studio) do sell a lot of mugs, bowls and what we call our “Petit Platter”. The platter can also be hung as wall art. I like making pieces that are dual purpose, beautiful, sculptural and functional. I don’t mind making mugs but Barb is better at pulling the handles so we collaborate or make handless mugs.

Q: Describe your favorite way to spend a Sunday morning.

A: Gosh, in bed! I don’t usually get to the studio, I’ve been working in NH in the afternoon.

*You can meet Samantha in her new Studio 228 on First Saturday Open Studios.
*Muddy Girls Studio has a show at LDG with Laura Doran and Kevin Connelly
Down to Earth : With Clay, Paper & Wood, reception on May 2nd 5-6pm
Show dates. April 29-May 31
*Samantha also has pieces in the show Celebrating Cambodian Ceramics
From the Studio of Yary Livan and Lowell Schools at
The LTC Gallery
246 Market St, Lowell, NH
Gallery hrs M-Th 10am- 9:30pm
Fri 10-6, Sat 10am- 12pm

Spring is finally here! Yay! Head out and see what your favorite Artists are up to.

Lush Beads Industrial is heading to Brooklyn, NY for Bust Craftacular’s Primped! The event is happening on Sunday April 19 from 11-8 at Brooklyn Bazaar, 165 Banker Street. See ” the best in indie and handmade clothing, accessories, bath and beauty products, curated vintage, and creative food” all for $5 admission!

Muddy Girls are moving their studio from the 4th Floor to the 2nd Floor! Help them lighten the load! 20% off select pottery now thru May 2 in Studio 405

Another Stunning show opens at the Loading Dock Gallery! “Layers and Light: Where Sky Meets Sea” Glass work by Aron Leaman and paintings by Bethany Peck! I had a sneek peek already and this show is out of this world!! The show runs now through April 26th

”September at Red Wing” by Priscilla Levesque is included in the current Members’ Show at the Newburyport Art Association. The show will be on view through April 25th

One of Garry Harley’s photographs has been accepted in the Arts League of Lowell (ALL) up-coming show titled EXPOSED 2015 / Open Juried photography show. Show ‘hangs’ April 17th through May 31st with an Artist reception April 26th from 4-6pm

Celebrating Cambodian Ceramics from the studio of Yary Livan & the Lowell Schools will be on display at the LTC Gallery through April 21st with an Opening reception on Thursday April 2nd fro 5-7pm The show features work from Yary Livan and the Muddy Girls (Samantha Tucker & Barb Guilmet). LAST CHANCE!

Another Stunning show opens at the Loading Dock Gallery! “Layers and Light: Where Sky Meets Sea” Glass work by Aron Leaman and paintings by Bethany Peck! I had a sneek peek already and this show is out of this world!! The show runs now through April 26th

Many Western venue Artists, including Samantha Grenier, are participating in this years “4×4 for Education” at The Brush Gallery. A scholarship event to raise funds for The Brush’s UMass Lowell Art Scholarship program. $25. tickets are available at the door!

Valerie Borgal is in the Tewksbury Library Monthly Art Show – “HOLES” Sponsored by the Tewksbury Community of Artists – Open Library hours from April 7 to May 5

Photographer Daniel Mathieu is in the show Art unites Communities Group Show at the Attleboro Arts Museum. The show runs through May 9th with a reception Saturday the 11th from 2-4pm

Celebrating Cambodian Ceramics from the studio of Yary Livan & the Lowell Schools will be on display at the LTC Gallery through April 21st with an Opening reception on Thursday April 2nd fro 5-7pm The show features work from Yary Livan and the Muddy Girls (Samantha Tucker & Barb Guilmet).

Another Stunning show opens at the Loading Dock Gallery! “Layers and Light: Where Sky Meets Sea” Glass work by Aron Leaman and paintings by Bethany Peck! I had a sneek peek already and this show is out of this world!! The show runs now through April 26th with an opening reception Saturday April 4th from 5-7pm

Deb Bretton Robinson has a one woman show “Follow the River” at the Newton Public Library. The show features contemporary river and lake scenes of Northern Mass and Northern NH. and runs through April 29th with a public reception Thursday April 2nd from 7-8:30pm

Celebrating Cambodian Ceramics from the studio of Yary Livan & the Lowell Schools will be on display at the LTC Gallery through April 21st with an Opening reception on Thursday April 2nd fro 5-7pm The show features work from Yary Livan and the Muddy Girls (Samantha Tucker & Barb Guilmet).

Western Avenue Studios and Western Avenue Lofts form the largest artist community of our kind on the East Coast, if not the country. Starting with 31 studios and 45 artists on one floor of one building in 2005 we have grown to 245 studios offering work space to more than 280 artists and 50 live/work lofts offering 70 artists the opportunity to live and work in a nurturing and supportive environment.